Kite and stabilizing means therefor



Feb. 4, 1964 Filed April 22, 1960 R. G- COFFEY KITE AND STABILIZING MEANS THEREFOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A TTORNEY Feb. 4, 1964 R. G. COFFEY 3,120,356

KITE AND STABILIZING MEANS THEREFOR Filed April 22, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

BY ffofierf 6. (W27 W h w? A7'TORNEY.

United States Patent O 3,120,366 KITE AND STABILIZING MEANS THEREFOR Robert G. Coffey, 1215 Dorchester Ave, Orlando, Fla. Filed Apr. 22, 1960, Ser. No. 24,145 4 Claims. (Cl. '244153) This invention relates to kites and stabilizing means therefor.

The principal objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a kite which is very stable in flight.

Second, to provide a kite flight stabilizing means which may be incorporated or embodied in kites varying widely in design, shape and size and without material variations in the structure of the kites.

Third, to provide a stabilizing means having these advantages which may be very economically produced and embodied in a kite.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of one form of kite embodying my invention. v

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of a kite of the general type shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another form of kite with the stabilizing means of my invention embodied therein.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view on a line corresponding to line 44 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary rear perspective view of another form or embodiment of my kite stabilizing device.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of still another form of kite embodying my invention.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged side elevational view of the kite of FIG. 6 in normal flight position.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are top views of collapsible fan-shaped kites embodying my invention.

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of another form or embodiment of my kite stabilizer.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1 the body member 1 of the kite is of missile-like design, being elongated and of cylindrical cross section and having an outwardly curved front end 2 and rear end 3. In kites of this type the body is closed providing an air chamber. The line 4 is illustrated as looped at 5 around the body member adjacent to but forwardly of the center thereof. The annular flight stabilizer *6 is of substantial diameter relative to the diameter of the body member and of substantial width, and is open for the free passage of air therethrough. It is secured to the curved rear end 3 of the body member to project downwardly therefrom by the clip 7. This is shown convention-ally as different forms of attaching means may be and are employed in use, as shown in other figures. The clip 7 as illustrated in the embodiment of my invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 may desirably be of plastic material, which is used as it may be attached to inflated balloons such as illustrated in FIGS. '1 and 2 without puncturing the wall of the balloon. It should be understood, however, that other means may be employed which serve to hold the stabilizer 6 in its angular downwardly projecting relation to the body member of the balloon.

It will be noted that this stabilizer projects downwardly below the rear end of the body member when the kite is in flight posit-ion and as is illustrated in the embodiments "ice and diving and like irregular motions of the kite. While it does not add greatly to the weight'of the kite, it does greatly stabilize the flight of the kite. The stabilizer may be formed of metal or plastic.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 the body -8 is substantially-that of FIG. 1 except that it is much larger. The two figures are shown to illustrate the wide range of adaptability. In FIG. 3 the body member 9' is provided with a pair of front wings 10 and apair of rear Wings 11, and an upwardly projecting stabilizer blade 12. In this embodiment the stabilizer 6 is secured to therear end of the bar 13, the barbeing disposed on'the underside of the kite body and secured thereto desirably by adhesive indicated at 14 in FIG. 4.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the stabilizer member 6 is attachedby'the wire rod 15 to a bar 16 corresponding generally to the attaching bar of FIG. 3. This means of attaching has an advantage over that shown in FIG. 3 in that the portion 15 of the attaching means may be bent to very accurately position the stabilizer member relative to the flight characteristics of the particular kite to which the stabilizer is attached. That is, it is desirable that the stabilizer should be in a substantially vertical position when the kite is in its normal flight position and kites vary generally in that respect. This enables the most desirable positioning of the stabilizer.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the kite body 17 is of the sheet or panel type mounted upon a frame 18, the stabilizer member 6 is secured to the rear end of the central longitudinal frame piece 19 as by an adhesive strip 7. The flight cord 20 is connected to the kite body member as indicated in FIG. 7.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the kite body members 21 and 22. are made up of a plurality of collapsible leaf units 23 and the stabilizer 6 is secured to the rear ends of the kites as in the other embodiments. FIG. 9 illustrates the kite of FIG. 8 in collapsed form, but it will be understood that the number of leaves in this type of kite may be greatly varied at the leaf assembling stage. In these FIGS. 8 and 9, I illustrate two embodiments of collapsed leaf types of kites. This is done to show that the same stabilizer unit may be used on different dimensions of kites and is effective for the purpose intended, even though the stabilizer is of the same dimension. The embodiment shown in FIG. 10illustrates another form of attaching means. The flight cords are not illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, 8, 9 or 10 as the details of attaching the flight cords may be greatly varied and the details of attachment as such form no part of the present invention.

I have illustrated the several forms of kites so that it will be clearly understood that my stabilizer may be embodied in various types of kites and that it is highly desirable for use in kites varying greatly in size, such for example as relatively large kites adapted to be flown out of doors and to very small kites which may be adapted to be flown in confined spaces such as stores, rooms and the like. It is believed, however, that with these several adaptations illustrated and described, my invention may be readily adapted to various other types and structure of kites.

I have illustrated and described my invention in a highly practical embodiment thereof. I have not attempted to illustrate or described other adaptations or embodiments which I contemplate, as I believe this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my invention as may be desired. 1

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A kite comprising an elongated body member of cylindrical cross section and having outwardly curved front and rear ends, said body member being of substantially uniform diameter from end to end thereof except for its said curved ends, and an annular flight stabilizer member of substantial width fixedly secured to the underside of the rear curved end of the body member in transverse relation to and to project downwardly from the rear end of said body member and at an obtuse angle to the body member.

2. A kite comprising an elongated body member of cylindrical cross section and having outwardly curved front and rear ends, and an annular flight stabilizer member of substantial width fixedly secured to the underside of the rear curved end of the body member in transverse relation to and to project downwardly from the rear end of said body member and at an obtuse angle to the body member.

3. A kite comprising an elongated body member of substantially cylindrical cross section and of substantially uniform diameter from end to end thereof and having closed outwardly tapering front and rear ends, said body member having laterally projecting longitudinally spaced her to project downwardly relative to the rear end thereof and at an obtuse angle to the flight angle of said body member.

4. A kite comprising an elongated body member of substantially cylindrical cross section and of substantially uniform diameter from end to end thereof and having closed outwardly tapering front and rear ends, said body member having laterally projecting longitudinally spaced front and rear blades and an upwardly projecting stabilizing blade adjacent its rear end, and an annular stabilizer member of substantial width mounted on said body member to project downwardly relative to the rear 7 end thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 886, 159 Sellers Apr. 28, 1908 1,648,934 Brinkmann Nov. 15, 1927 2,339,011 Gurney Jan. 11, 1944 2,763,958 Lemelson Sept. 25, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 400,931 France Aug. 12, 1909 

1. A KITE COMPRISING AN ELONGATED BODY MEMBER OF CYLINDRICAL CROSS SECTION AND HAVING OUTWARDLY CURVED FRONT AND REAR ENDS, SAID BODY MEMBER BEING OF SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM DIAMETER FROM END TO END THEREOF EXCEPT FOR ITS SAID CURVED ENDS, AND AN ANNULAR FLIGHT STABILIZER MEMBER OF SUBSTANTIAL WIDTH FIXEDLY SECURED TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE REAR CURVED END OF THE BODY MEMBER IN TRANSVERSE RELATION TO AND TO PROJECT DOWNWARDLY FROM THE REAR END OF SAID BODY MEMBER AND AT AN OBTUSE ANGLE TO THE BODY MEMBER. 